The role of light-driven proton pumps in sustaining oceanic primary production

The role of light-driven proton pumps in sustaining oceanic primary production

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Thomas Mock, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Professor Vincent Moulton, School of Computing Sciences, UEA

Professor Shan Gao, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China

 

Scientific Background

Microbial rhodopsins (RHOs) are common in eukaryotic plankton including diatoms, which contribute ca. 45% of annual oceanic primary production. They represent an alternative energy system [proton pumping RHOs – ppRHOs] to support growth under unfavourable conditions (e.g., iron limitation). Hence, since ppRHOs play a key role in enhancing oceanic primary production in the face of limited nutrients, they can be considered as a ‘climate-change coping mechanism’, because nutrient limitations are expected to become more prevalent in the future. The aim of this project is to determine how ppRHOs underpin this ecosystem service. Thus, the PhD candidate will physiologically characterise ppRHO knock-in diatom cell lines and investigate how those results align with the abundance and expression of diatom ppRHO genes in the surface oceans.

 

Research Methodology

Objective 1: Identify the subcellular localisation of two different ppRHOs isolated from the polar diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus. This work will be done at UEA and IOCAS. To label the two ppRHO variants for TEM, synthetic peptides matching the C-termini have already been synthesized. A diatom-specific TEM protocol will be used to reveal their subcellular localisation. This work will be done at UEA and IOCAS (Prof. Shan Gao).

Objective 2: Using the genetically tractable model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, which does not naturally encode a ppRHO, to generate knock-in cell lines for both ppRHO variants from F. cylindrus and subject them to warming, iron limitation, and acidification. Phenotyping (e.g., photosynthesis measurements, growth rates) will reveal how RHOs contribute to the resilience of diatoms. This work will be done at UEA.

Objective 3: Homologs of both F. cylindrus ppRHO variants will be retrieved from MOSAiC and TARA Oceans omics sequence datasets and their normalised abundance and expression will be analysed in the context of environmental (e.g., concentrations of essential nutrients, temperature, CO2) conditions from pole-to-pole. This work will be done at UEA.

 

Training

The PhD candidate will acquire skills from the bench (e.g., PCR, cloning, phenotyping) to bioinformatics (e.g., Phython) to integrate data.

 

Person Specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is excited about applying diverse techniques (e.g., Molecular Microbiology, Bioinformatics).

Acceptable first degree subjects: A bachelor’s degree in Biological Science or equivalent.

Project code: MOCK_UEA_ARIES26

References

  • Strauss et al. (2023) Plastid-localized xanthorhodopsin increases diatom biomass and ecosystems productivity in iron-limited surface oceans. Nature Microbiology (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01498-5)
  • Mock et al. (2017) Evolutionary genomics of the cold-adapted diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Nature (DOI: 10.1038/nature20803)
  • Falciatore & Mock (Eds.) (2022) The Molecular Life of Diatoms, pp 808, Springer International Publishing (https://link.springer.com/book/9783030924980)
  • Clark et al. (2023) Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life. Nature Communications (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43209-y
  • Ye et al. (2022) The role of zinc in the adaptive evolution of polar phytoplankton. Nature Ecology and Evolution (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01750-x)

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2026. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 7 January 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the  University of East Anglia Application Portal